U.S. patent application number 16/575923 was filed with the patent office on 2020-03-26 for antriebsvorrichtung fur ein elektrofahrrad mit schwenkbarem motorsteckverbinder.
The applicant listed for this patent is Brose Antriebstechnik GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Berlin. Invention is credited to Michael BOCK, Markus HEINZ.
Application Number | 20200094916 16/575923 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 68066632 |
Filed Date | 2020-03-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20200094916 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
BOCK; Michael ; et
al. |
March 26, 2020 |
Antriebsvorrichtung fur ein Elektrofahrrad mit schwenkbarem
Motorsteckverbinder
Abstract
A drive apparatus for an electric bicycle with an electric
motor, an energy storage unit for supplying the electric motor with
electrical energy, and a carrier at which the energy storage unit
is releasably held, wherein a first plug connector is provided at
the energy storage unit and a second plug connector is provided at
the carrier which plug connector is connected to the first plug
connector to connect the energy storage unit to the electric motor.
The first plug connector is mounted in a pivotable manner at the
carrier about a first pivot axis.
Inventors: |
BOCK; Michael; (Berlin,
DE) ; HEINZ; Markus; (Berlin, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Brose Antriebstechnik GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft,
Berlin |
Berlin |
|
DE |
|
|
Family ID: |
68066632 |
Appl. No.: |
16/575923 |
Filed: |
September 19, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62K 3/06 20130101; B60L
53/80 20190201; B60L 50/64 20190201; B62M 6/40 20130101; B62M 6/90
20130101; B60L 2200/12 20130101; B60L 50/66 20190201 |
International
Class: |
B62M 6/40 20060101
B62M006/40; B62K 3/06 20060101 B62K003/06; B60L 50/60 20060101
B60L050/60; B60L 53/80 20060101 B60L053/80; B60L 50/64 20060101
B60L050/64; B62M 6/90 20060101 B62M006/90 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 25, 2018 |
DE |
10 2018 216 376.6 |
Claims
1. A drive apparatus for use in an electric bicycle, the drive
apparatus comprising: an electric motor; an energy storage unit
configured to supply electrical energy to the electric motor and
including a first plug connector; and a carrier including a second
plug connector, connected to the first plug connector to
electrically connect the energy storage unit to the electric motor,
wherein the carrier releasably holds the energy storage unit, and
wherein the first plug connector is pivotably mounted at the
carrier about a first pivot axis.
2. The drive apparatus of claim 1, wherein the carrier includes a
holder, wherein the first plug connector is disposed on a
connecting component pivotally mounted to the holder about a first
pivot axis.
3. The drive apparatus of claim 2, wherein the connecting component
forms two pivot bearing sections wherein the two pivot bearing
sections engage the holder in a pivotable manner.
4. The drive apparatus of claim 3, wherein the connecting component
is at least partially disposed in an intermediate space between the
two pivot bearing sections.
5. The drive apparatus of claim 4, wherein the energy storage unit
is mounted in a pivotable manner to the holder about a second pivot
axis.
6. The drive apparatus of claim 5, wherein at least one plug
section is provided at the energy storage unit and is inserted at a
pivot bearing section of the holder, wherein the holder defines the
second pivot axis.
7. The drive apparatus of claim 6, wherein the energy storage unit
pivotable about the second pivot axis between an operating position
and a removal position, wherein when the energy storage unit is in
the removal position, the plug section is removable from the pivot
bearing section so that the energy storage unit may be removed from
the carrier.
8. The drive apparatus of claim 7, wherein the second pivot axis is
parallel to the first pivot axis.
9. The drive apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first plug connector
is mounted so that the first plug is repositionable with respect to
the carrier and perpendicular to the first pivot axis.
10. The drive apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first plug
connector is mounted so that the first plug connector is configured
to be repositioned in a direction perpendicular to the first pivot
axis.
11. The drive apparatus of claim 6, wherein the pivot bearing
sections are each rotatably mounted and are repositionable within a
bearing guide that extends perpendicularly to the first pivot axis
of a bearing section.
12. The drive apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first plug
connector is spring-loaded and moveable in a direction that is
perpendicular to the first pivot axis.
13. The drive apparatus of claim 12, further comprising at least
one spring element arranged between the two bearing sections so
that the first plug connector is spring-loaded.
14. The drive apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first plug
connector and/or the second plug connector is/are formed by a round
plug.
15. The drive apparatus of claim 1, wherein the carrier is formed
by a frame of the electric bicycle or by a component that is to be
mounted on the frame.
16. (canceled)
17. A drive apparatus for use in an electric bicycle including a
frame part and an electric motor, the drive apparatus comprising:
an accumulator configured to supply electrical energy to the
electric motor; a holder including, a base, a fork formed by a
first bearing leg and a second bearing leg and defining a first
pivot axis, a body extending between the fork and the base, wherein
the body defines a second pivot axis, wherein the accumulator is
pivotally coupled to the body about the second pivot axis; a first
plug connector disposed between and pivotably mounted to the first
bearing leg and the second bearing leg about a first pivot axis;
and a second plug connector extending from the accumulator, wherein
the accumulator is configured to pivot about the second pivot axis
between a removal position and an operating position, wherein when
the accumulator is in the operating position, the first plug
connector engages the second plug connector.
18. The drive apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a
compression spring disposed between the first bearing leg and the
second bearing, wherein the compression spring biases the first
plug connector so that the first plug connector is aligned with the
second plug connector when the accumulator is in the operating
position.
19. The drive apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a pivot
bearing pin, wherein the pivot bearing pin extends between the
first bearing leg and the second bearing leg, and wherein the first
plug connector is pivotally mounted to the pivot bearing pin.
20. A drive apparatus for use in an electric bicycle including a
frame part and an electric motor, the drive apparatus comprising: a
holder defining a first pivot axis and a second pivot axis; a first
plug connector pivotally mounted to the holder about the first
pivot axis; an accumulator configured to supply electrical energy
to the electric motor; and a second plug connector extending from
the accumulator, wherein the accumulator is configured to move
between an operating position and a removal position, wherein the
accumulator is configured to be removably and pivotally mounted to
the holder about the second pivot axis, wherein when the
accumulator is in the operating position, the second plug connector
engages the first plug connector.
21. The drive apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a pivot
bearing pin extending from the holder, wherein the accumulator
includes a plug jaw pivotally engaging the pivot bearing pin.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to German patent
application Serial No. DE 10 2018 216 376.6 filed Sep. 25, 2018,
the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by
reference herein.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a drive apparatus for use
in an electric bicycle provided with an electric motor and an
energy storage unit for supplying the electric motor with
electrical energy.
BACKGROUND
[0003] In electric bicycles, an energy storage unit, for example
with at least one accumulator, is provided and held at a carrier
for supplying at least one electric motor of the electric bicycle
with electrical energy. Such a carrier may, for example, be part of
a frame of the electric bicycle, or a component to be joined to
such a frame. The energy storage unit here is then regularly held
releasably at the carrier that is fixed to the frame, so that when
necessary the energy storage unit may be removed from the carrier,
for example in order to be able to connect the energy storage unit
to a separate charging device.
[0004] Plug connectors are usually provided for making the
electrical contact. In this way a first plug connector of the
energy storage unit may be connected to a second plug connector
provided at the carrier, in order to electrically connect the
energy storage unit attached to the carrier to the electric motor
(or multiple electric motors) and to be able to supply the electric
motor with current. So-called blade contacts are also known from
practice in order to connect an energy storage unit to the electric
motor and in that way to achieve a connection to the electric
motor.
SUMMARY
[0005] A drive apparatus for an electric bicycle is proposed below
that may include a first plug connector of the energy storage unit
is mounted in a pivotable manner at a carrier, at which the energy
storage unit is releasably held and at which a second plug
connector connected to the first plug connector is provided, about
a first pivot axis.
[0006] The carrier-side plug connector may be mounted in a
pivotable manner about a first pivot axis, and is thus provided
movably at the carrier. The first plug connector at the carrier may
provide a possible displacement of the energy storage unit with
respect to the carrier, without an electrical connection between
the electric motor of the drive apparatus and the energy storage
unit being disconnected. Such a configuration further permits the
use of commercially usual, and therefore standardized, plug
connectors without difficulty. This in turn enables a greater
variability in the selection of plug, whereby cost advantages may
be achieved in the manufacture of the drive apparatus.
[0007] The first plug connector may be constructed at a connecting
component that is mounted in a pivotable manner at a holder of the
carrier about the first pivot axis. The carrier-side holder may
here be implemented as a separate component and fixed to the
carrier. The holder is alternatively formed at the carrier
itself.
[0008] In one or more embodiments, the connecting component forms
two pivot bearing sections by means of which the connecting
component is mounted in a pivotable manner at the holder. The two
pivot bearing sections each comprise, for example, a pivot bearing
pin that is mounted in a pivotable manner at the holder.
[0009] In a development based on this, the connecting component is
accommodated for example at least partially in an intermediate
space between two bearing sections of the holder, and mounted in a
pivotable manner by way of the two pivot bearing sections at the
two holder-side bearing sections. The two bearing sections of the
holder are accordingly spaced apart with respect to one another by
the intermediate space. The two bearing sections for example form
legs of a U-shaped or V-shaped bearing area of the holder.
[0010] In one or more embodiments, the energy storage unit is also
mounted in a pivotable manner at the holder about a second pivot
axis for the connecting component with the first plug connector. At
least one further pivot or rotating bearing is thus provided at the
holder in order to specify a second pivot axis for the energy
storage unit. The carrier-side holder thus integrates at least one
additional function. The energy storage unit may here be pivotable
about the second pivot axis between an operating position and a
removal position. The energy storage unit is located for example in
the operating position when the at least one electric motor is
supplied with current by way of the energy storage unit, and the
electric bicycle is thus ready for operation and it is possible to
ride with electric motor assistance. In the removal position, the
energy storage unit may on the other hand be separated from the
carrier (and thereby from the electric bicycle), for example in
order to connect the energy storage unit to a separate charging
device.
[0011] At least one plug section may be provided at the energy
storage unit which section is inserted at a pivot bearing section
of the holder that defines the second pivot axis. The energy
storage unit may be joined without the use of tools to the
carrier-side holder and also released again without the use of
tools from the carrier-side holder by means of the plug connection
between the pivot bearing section of the holder and the plug
section of the energy storage unit. At the same time, a pivot
bearing of the energy storage unit at the carrier-side holder is
achieved through this plug connection, so that the energy storage
unit may be pivoted between an operating position and a removal
position. The energy storage unit may, for example, thus be
pivotable about the pivot axis between the operating position and
the removal position, wherein in the removal position the plug
section may easily be withdrawn from the pivot bearing section in
order to remove the energy storage unit from the carrier.
Conversely, the energy storage unit may be plugged onto the pivot
bearing section of the holder by means of its at least one plug
section, in order subsequently to be pivoted out of the removal
installation adopted in this way at the pivot bearing section about
the second pivot axis thereby defined into the operating position
at the carrier.
[0012] The pivot bearing section of the holder is, for example,
designed as a rod or pin. For the attachment in the approved manner
of the energy storage unit which, for example, comprises an
accumulator, the energy storage unit is then subsequently plugged
by means of at least one plug section to a rod-shaped or pin-shaped
pivot bearing section of the holder, and then pivoted about a
second pivot axis defined by this rod-shaped or pin-shaped pivot
bearing section into an operating position at the carrier. The
energy storage unit is then locked in this operating position, so
that an electric bicycle fitted with the drive apparatus according
to the proposed solution is again ready for operation.
[0013] The second pivot axis for the energy storage unit may in
principle run parallel to the first pivot axis for the first plug
connector. A pivoting movement of the energy storage unit between
its operating position and its removal position at the carrier may
thus be completed without difficulty by the first carrier-side plug
connector.
[0014] In one or more embodiments, the first plug connector is
mounted in a repositionable manner at the carrier perpendicular to
the first pivot axis. The additional ability to reposition the
first plug connector perpendicularly to its first pivot axis may on
the one hand simplify the connection to the second plug connector
of the energy storage unit. On the other hand, the carrier-side
(and therefore motor-side) first plug connector may, due to the
additional ability to reposition, complete a translatory movement
possibly even only slightly overlaid onto a pivoting movement of
the energy storage unit during a transfer from an operating
position into a removal position or vice versa without difficulty,
without a connection between the first and second plug connectors
necessarily being disconnected here. For example, a connecting
component comprising the first plug connector may also in addition
be mounted in a repositionable manner perpendicular to the first
pivot axis by means of the two pivot bearing sections through which
the connecting component is mounted in a pivotable manner at the
holder. In this variant, the two pivot bearing sections of the
connecting component thus on the one hand ensure an ability to
pivot about the first pivot axis as well as an ability to
reposition perpendicular to the first pivot axis at the holder. For
this purpose, the plug-side pivot bearing sections are each then
for example mounted rotatably and in a repositionable manner in a
bearing guide that extends perpendicularly to the first pivot axis
at an associated bearing section of the holder. In this way the
connecting component with the first plug connector may be
repositioned along an extension axis of the bearing guides of the
two bearing sections that lie opposite one another. The connecting
component may at the same time pivot about the first pivot axis
which is defined by the rotatable bearing of the pivot bearing
sections at the bearing guides.
[0015] Alternatively or in addition the first plug connector may be
spring-loaded perpendicularly to the first pivot axis. In other
words, in this variant embodiment the first plug connector is
preloaded by means of at least one spring element in a direction
perpendicular to the first pivot axis. Through a spring-loading of
the first carrier-side plug connector it is possible, for example,
for the first plug connector always to adopt a specific relative
position due to the action of at least one spring element. The
spring-loading of the first plug connector serves, for example, to
center the first plug connector after connection in the approved
manner to the second plug connector of the energy storage unit
after an attachment of the energy storage unit to the carrier.
[0016] In one or more embodiments, it is, for example, provided
that the first plug connector is spring-loaded by at least one
spring element arranged between the two bearing sections between
which the intermediate space for the at least partial housing of
the connecting component is present. Such a spring element is then
for example supported at one connecting section of the holder that
joins the two bearing sections on the one hand and at the
connecting component on the other hand. The at least one spring
element is, for example, designed as a compression spring.
[0017] In one or more embodiments, the first plug connector
comprises a round plug. The second plug connector may,
alternatively or in addition, comprise a round plug. Such a round
plug may be a commercially usual plug connector for making
electrical contact. The use of a commercially usual round plug is
possible without difficulty due to the proposed pivotable bearing
of the first plug connector. Other plug geometries are, of course,
also conceivable, however.
[0018] The carrier may, fundamentally, be formed by a frame for the
electric bicycle, in particular by a frame part of the frame, e.g.
in the form of a frame tube. In an alternative variant embodiment,
the carrier is formed by a component that is to be mounted on a
frame for the electric bicycle. Thus whereas in the first-mentioned
variant the carrier with the first plug connector mounted in a
pivotable manner thereon is formed by the frame of the electric
bicycle itself or at least by a frame part, the most recently
described variant provides a component as carrier that is
subsequently mounted on the frame of the electric bicycle and fixed
to it. Fundamentally, however, when the drive apparatus is in the
state mounted on the electric bicycle in the approved manner, the
carrier is a component fixed to the frame to which the energy
storage unit may be attached and from which it may be removed again
when necessary.
[0019] The proposed solution further also comprises an electric
bicycle with a variant embodiment of a proposed drive
apparatus.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] The appended figures clarify possible variant embodiments of
the proposed solution by way of example.
[0021] Here:
[0022] FIG. 1A shows a carrier of a variant embodiment of a
proposed drive apparatus with an energy storage unit in the form of
an accumulator attached thereto;
[0023] FIG. 1B shows a perspective view of the carrier in
accordance with FIG. 1A with an accumulator pivoted into a removal
installation;
[0024] FIG. 2 shows a front view of a holder of the carrier of
FIGS. 1A and 1B on which a first plug connector of the carrier
side, and thus of the motor side, is mounted in a pivotable manner,
together with the accumulator in the removal installation;
[0025] FIG. 3A shows details with an enlarged scale and sections of
the holder with the motor-side first plug connector which is
connected to an accumulator-side second plug connector, and the
accumulator in an operating position folded against the
carrier;
[0026] FIG. 3B shows a view of the carrier in accordance with FIG.
3A and the accumulator pivoted into its removal installation and
already withdrawn;
[0027] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view and sections of the holder
with a view of an upper side of two bearing sections on which the
motor-side first plug connector is mounted in a pivotable
manner;
[0028] FIG. 5 shows sections and details with an enlarged scale of
the motor-side first plug connector with a view of a spring-loading
at the holder;
[0029] FIG. 6 shows a side view of a bicycle frame designed as a
carrier from the prior art which comprises a frame part with an
accumulator fastened thereon, which is illustrated in a removal
installation in FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0030] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention
are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the
disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that
may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are
not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or
minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore,
specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not
to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis
for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present
invention.
[0031] A drive apparatus known from EP 3 118 096 A1, an energy
storage unit is further, for example, proposed wherein at least one
first plug connector is provided at an upper side. This first plug
connector is inserted at a carrier-side second plug connector when
the energy storage unit is mounted in the approved manner to a
lower tube of the bicycle frame fixed to the frame as a carrier.
The plug connections proposed here are evidently
manufacturer-specific, and cannot be easily standardized. An
electrical connection between the energy storage unit and the
electric motor is, moreover, only given in precisely one operating
position of the energy storage unit. If the energy storage unit at
the carrier is transferred after the release of a locking system
into a removal position, the connection to the electric motor and
to corresponding control electronics is immediately disconnected.
Any functions supplied with electrical energy by way of the energy
storage unit are thus no longer available at the electric bicycle,
even if, for example, the energy storage unit is only slightly
displaced with respect to the carrier.
[0032] FIG. 6 shows an embodiment, known from the prior art, for
example from EP 3 118 096 A1, of a drive apparatus with electric
motor for an electric bicycle on a bicycle frame R. The bicycle
frame R comprises a plurality of frame tubes joined together,
including in particular a frame part in the form of a down tube RT.
A housing of an electric motor E is fixed in particular to this
down tube RT. A chain ring K, which may in addition also be driven
by a pedal crank T, is coupled to this electric motor E.
[0033] An energy storage unit A' in the form of an accumulator is
provided for supplying the electric motor E with electrical energy.
This accumulator A' is fastened to the down tube RT. The
longitudinally extended accumulator A' may here be inserted onto an
end of the down tube RT facing away from the electric motor E into
a receptacle of the down tube RT. The front end of the accumulator
A' may then, through the inserted end of the accumulator A', be
folded into the receptacle formed at the lower side of the down
tube RT.
[0034] At the end of the accumulator A' that is to be folded in, an
accumulator-side (second) plug connector is provided in the form of
a connecting plug 2'. This accumulator-side connecting plug 2' is
plugged onto a motor-side (first) plug connector in the form of a
connecting plug which connector is provided inside the receptacle
of the down tube RT when the accumulator A' is folded completely
into the receptacle of the down tube RT in the approved manner and
accommodated therein. An actuating handle B is provided at the
upper side of the down tube RT to release the accumulator A' from
the down tube RT and in particular to release the electrically
conductive connection between the connecting plugs.
[0035] Whereas the specifically designed connecting plugs, in
particular the accumulator-side connecting plug 2' of the variant
embodiment of a drive apparatus of FIG. 6 known from the prior art,
are each rigid and immovable, and are therefore not coupled
together in the approved manner until the accumulator A' is fully
inserted into the receptacle of the down tube RT, and only then, a
variant embodiment of the proposed solution provides that a
carrier-side respectively motor-side plug connector is mounted in a
pivotable manner.
[0036] In the variant embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 5 a
holder 1 is fixed for this purpose to a frame part RT of a bicycle
frame which mounts a motor-side connecting plug 100 in a pivotable
manner. The interior of the frame parts RT, for example in the form
of a down tube according to the bicycle frame R of FIG. 6, here
defines a receptacle for an accumulator A. This accumulator A is
attached at the holder 1 so that the accumulator A may be pivoted
about a second pivot axis D2 defined at the holder 1 in the
receptacle at the frame part RT. The accumulator A here is, already
in a position that is not fully folded in, electrically connected
via a coupling of an accumulator-side connecting plug 2 to the
motor-side connecting plug 100 with an electric motor (e.g. an
electric motor E according to FIG. 6). With the electrical
connection to the electric motor now already established, the
accumulator A may then be folded into its operating position. In
that the motor-side connecting plug 100 is mounted in a pivotable
manner at the holder 1 about a first pivot axis D1, which extends
parallel to the second pivot axis D2, the motor-side connecting
plug 100 may complete such a folding or pivoting movement about the
second pivot axis D2.
[0037] In FIG. 1A the frame part RT is illustrated with the
accumulator A folded in and thereby located in its operating
position. It may be seen in particular here from the perspective
view of FIG. 1A that the holder 1 is of L-shaped design when viewed
from the side for the pivotable mounting of the motor-side
connecting plug 100. The holder is fixed here by means of a base 11
to an inner wall inside the hollow frame part RT. A bearing area 10
on which the motor-side connecting plug 100 is mounted in a
pivotable manner extends from the base 11.
[0038] The accumulator A may be locked in the operating position of
FIG. 1A by means of a lock S. If the lock S is open, the
accumulator A may be removed from the frame part RT, for example in
order to charge the accumulator A at a separate charging device.
For the removal from the frame part RT, the accumulator A is here
pivoted outward about the second pivot axis D2 (compare in
particular FIGS. 2 and 3A-3B), so that an end of the accumulator A
that faces away from the holder 1 is folded out from the interior
of the frame part RT.
[0039] As can be seen from the overall view of FIGS. 2, 3A and 3B,
the accumulator A has two plug sections, each in the form of a plug
jaw 4a, 4b at the other end of said accumulator facing toward the
holder 1. The accumulator A is inserted at a pivot bearing section
in the form of a pivot bearing pin 13a or 13b of the holder 1 by
means of each plug jaw 4a, 4b. These pivot bearing pins 13a and 13b
protrude at sides of the holder 1 facing away from one another, and
physically define the second pivot axis D2 for the accumulator A.
The accumulator A is inserted by means of the plug jaws 4a, 4b at
the pivot bearing pins 13a and 13b on both sides of the holder 1,
so that each pivot bearing pin 13a and 13b is respectively
surrounded by an associated plug jaw 4a, 4b and thus establishes a
positive-lock connection between the accumulator A and the holder
1, by means of which connection the accumulator A may be pivoted at
the holder 1 between its operating position and its removal
position. The accumulator A may here also be inserted by means of
the associated end along the longitudinal axis of the accumulator A
at the holder 1 by means of the plug jaws 4a and 4b which are open
to one side along a longitudinal axis of the accumulator A. The
accumulator A is then pivoted out of the removal installation
adopted hereby into an operating position in which the accumulator
A is accommodated in the receptacle of the frame part RT.
[0040] The accumulator-side second connecting plug 2 is designed in
the present case as a round plug, and is inserted into a socket of
the motor-side first connecting plug 100 in order to establish an
electrically conductive connection between the accumulator A and
the electric motor. In order in particular to enable the use here
of standardized and commercially usual connecting plugs 100 and 2,
the motor-side connecting plug 100 is mounted at a U-shaped upper
end of the bearing area 10 in a pivotable manner about the first
pivot axis D1. For this purpose the motor-side first connecting
plug 100 comprises two pivot bearing pins 100a and 100b as
plug-side pivot bearing sections. Each pivot bearing pin 100a, 100b
of the connecting plug 100 is mounted in a pivotable manner at an
associated bearing section of the bearing area 10 in the form of a
bearing leg 10a or 10b. An intermediate space 10c is formed between
the bearing legs 10a and 10b in which the motor-side first
connecting plug 100 is accommodated and mounted in a pivotable
manner by the pivot bearing pins 100a and 100b which are held
rotatably at the bearing legs 10a and 10b.
[0041] As can be seen in particular from the perspective plan view
of FIG. 4, each of the bearing legs 10a, 10b forms a bearing guide
in the form of a bearing slot 10.1a or 10.1b. The bearing slots
10.1a and 10.1b here run parallel to one another and
perpendicularly to the first pivot axis D1. Upward, i.e. toward a
free end of the bearing legs 10a and 10b that face away from the
base 11, the bearing slots 10.1a and 10.1b are each open, so that
the motor-side connecting plug 100 may be inserted from above at
the bearing area 10 during assembly with its plug-side pivot
bearing pins 100a and 100b. In order to then prevent a removal of
the motor-side connecting plug 100 from the bearing area 10 of the
holder 1, a securing pin 5 is inserted at each bearing leg 10a,
10b. This securing pin 5 is inserted into a pin hole 15a or 15b of
a bearing leg 10a or 10b, so that the securing pin 5 respectively
extends with a section through the respective bearing slot 10.1a or
10.1b. By this means the securing pin 5 respectively prevents a
displacement of the plug-side pivot bearing pin 100a or 100b held
in the respective bearing slot 10.1a or 10.1b by more than a
permissible extent in the direction of the end of the respective
bearing leg 10a or 10b. A plug-side pivot bearing pin 100a, 100b
may thus not be pushed past the rigid securing pin 5.
[0042] The motor-side first connecting plug 100 is preloaded at the
bearing area 10 in the direction of the free ends of the bearing
legs 10a and 10b by means of a spring element in the form of a
compression spring 3. The compression spring 3 which is supported
both at the motor-side first connecting plug 100 and at the bearing
area 10 accordingly presses the motor-side first connecting plug
100 in a direction perpendicular to the first pivot axis D1. The
motor-side first connecting plug 100 is thus not only mounted in a
pivotable manner about the first pivot axis D1 at the bearing area
10 of the holder 1, but also in a longitudinally movable manner by
means of the bearing slots 10.1a and 10.1b, specifically
perpendicular to the first pivot axis D1. The motor-side first
connecting plug 100 is here spring-loaded by means of the
compression spring 3 perpendicular to the first pivot axis D1.
[0043] The spring-loading of the motor-side first connecting plug
100 here ensures an automatic centered alignment of the motor-side
first connecting plug 100 at the bearing area 10 of the holder 1
when the accumulator A is plugged in. In addition, by means of the
spring-loading and the additional ability to reposition the
motor-side first connecting plug 100 associated therewith, a
coupling to the accumulator-side second connecting plug 2 is made
easier when inserting the accumulator A at the frame part RT. For
positioning the compression spring 3 at the motor-side first
connecting plug 100, this comprises a protruding sprung pin 102
onto which an end of the compression spring 3 is pushed. In the
region of the intermediate space 10c, furthermore, a holder-side
sprung pin 12 is formed by the bearing area 10 at a connecting
section that connects the two bearing legs 10a and 10b, onto which
the other end of the compression spring 3 is pushed. In this way
the compression spring 3 adopts a defined position at the holder 1,
and preloads the motor-side first connecting plug 100 against the
holder 1.
[0044] To remove the accumulator A from the frame part RT--after
releasing the locking by the lock S--the accumulator A is pivoted
out of the operating position illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 3A about
the pivot bearing pins 13a and 13b that are formed at the holder 1,
so that one end of the accumulator A is folded outward out of the
receptacle of the frame part RT. This pivoting movement about the
second pivot axis D2 is followed by the motor-side first connecting
plug 100 which is mounted in a pivotable manner about the first
pivot axis D1 at the holder 1 and additionally spring-loaded in a
repositionable manner perpendicularly thereto.
[0045] If the accumulator A was pivoted about a predetermined pivot
angle, for example in the range between 10.degree. and 25.degree.,
outward into a removal position in accordance with FIGS. 1B, 2 and
3B, the plug connection between the connecting plugs 100 and 2 as
well as the plug connections between the plug jaws 4a and 4b and
the associated pivot bearing pins 13a and 13b of the holder 1 may
be released, in that the accumulator A is simply withdrawn from the
holder 1 perpendicularly to the second pivot axis D2 and, in the
present case, along the longitudinal axis of the accumulator A.
[0046] If the accumulator A is to be attached again to the frame
part RT, the accumulator A is plugged in the reverse manner by
means of its plug jaws 4a and 4b in a removal position, angled with
respect to the frame part RT, at the pivot bearing pins 13a and 13b
of the holder 1. From the removal position adopted in this way, in
which the connecting plugs 2 and 100 may then also already be
connected to one another in order to establish an electrically
connection between the accumulator A and an electric motor of the
electric bicycle, the accumulator A is then pivoted into its
operating position about the second pivot axis D2 at the pivot
bearing pins 13a and 13b until the accumulator A is folded as far
as possible into the receptacle of the frame part RT.
[0047] A mechanical pivot-in aid for the accumulator A, which is to
be attached to the frame part RT and fastened thereto, is provided
by means of the first connecting plug 100 on the carrier side and
thereby the motor side, mounted in a pivotable manner on both sides
at the bearing legs 10a and 10b and which, in the illustrated
variant embodiment, is additionally spring-loaded perpendicularly
to its first pivot axis D1. This pivot-in aid thereby enables not
only a simple attachment of the accumulator A to the frame part RT
and an easy removal of the accumulator A from the frame part RT.
Rather does it also make it possible to use commercially usual plug
connectors, for example respectively in the form of a round plug,
instead of specific connecting plugs 2 and 100.
[0048] The following is a list of reference numbers shown in the
Figures. However, it should be understood that the use of these
terms is for illustrative purposes only with respect to one
embodiment. And, use of reference numbers correlating a certain
term that is both illustrated in the Figures and present in the
claims is not intended to limit the claims to only cover the
illustrated embodiment.
TABLE-US-00001 List of reference signs 1 Holder 10 Bearing area
10.1a, 10.1b Bearing slot (bearing guide) 100 Motor-side connecting
plug (first plug connector) 100a, 100b Pivot bearing pin (plug-side
pivot bearing section) 102 Sprung pin 10a, 10b Bearing leg 10c
Intermediate space 11 Base 12 Sprung pin 13a, 13b Pivot bearing pin
(holder-side pivot bearing section) 15a, 15b Pin hole 2, 2'
Accumulator-side connecting plug (second plug connector) 3
Compression spring (spring element) 4a, 4b Plug jaw (plug section)
5 Securing pin A, A' Accumulator (energy storage unit) B Actuating
handle D1, D2 Pivot axis E Electric motor K Chain ring R Bicycle
frame (carrier) RT Down tube (frame part/carrier) S Lock T Pedal
crank
[0049] While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not
intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the
invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of
description rather than limitation, and it is understood that
various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention. Additionally, the features of various
implementing embodiments may be combined to form further
embodiments of the invention.
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